Visa Description
- D-8-1: Investing in Corporations
- D-8-2: Investing in Ventures
- D-8-3: Investing in Sole Proprietorships
- D-8-4: Technology start-ups
- Maximum period of stay that can be granted once
- 5 years for "D-8-1, D-8-3"
- 2 years for "D-8-2" and "D-8-4
Visa Candidate
- D-8-1: Essential professionals who intend to engage in the management, administration, or production and technology of a foreign-invested Korean corporation under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act.
- Basic requirements
- The investment target must be a Korean corporation
- The investment amount is 100 million won or more, and the investor owns at least one-tenth of the total number of voting shares of the invested corporation or owns shares of the corporation and signs an executive dispatch or appointment contract *In principle, the investment amount must be in the name of the investor, but exceptions are allowed for spouses and minor children.
- Basic requirements
- D-8-2: A person who has established a venture company pursuant to subparagraph 2, paragraph 1, item 2 of Article 2 of the Act on Special Measures to Promote Venture Companies with Excellent Technology, including possession of intellectual property rights, or a representative of a company that has been certified as a venture company pursuant to Article 25 of the same Act, or a representative of a company that has been evaluated as having excellent technology.
- D-8-3: Essential specialized personnel who intend to engage in business management or production technology in companies managed by Korean nationals (individuals) that are foreign-invested enterprises under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act (hereinafter referred to as "investment in private companies (D-8-3)") * Excluding those recruited in Korea
- The investment target must be a company managed by a Korean national.
- The investment amount must be 100 million won or more, and the investor must own at least one-tenth of the total capital of the invested company and be listed as a co-president with a Korean national on the business registration certificate * The investment amount must be in the name of the investor, but exceptions are allowed for spouses and minor children.
- The business capital of the Korean co-owner must be at least 100 million won.
Visa Requirements
- D-8-1
- Visa issuance application, passport, one standardized photograph, and fee
- In case of expatriate activities, dispatch order (specifying the period of dispatch) and certificate of employment
- Copy of foreign investment company registration certificate
- Copy of business license, full certificate of incorporation, and original statement of shareholder changes
- Proof of investment fund introduction
- Additional documents for individual investors with an investment amount of less than 300 million won
- Proof of capital utilization (receipts for purchase of goods, office interior costs, domestic bank statements, etc.)
- Documents proving the existence of the business location (office lease agreement, photos of the business location, office space, signage, etc.)
- Documentation from the Bureau of Nationality regarding business experience in your industry or field (if necessary)
- D-8-2
- Visa issuance application, passport, one standardized photograph, and fee
- Copy of business license, full certificate of incorporation
- Venture company certificate or preliminary venture company certificate
- Documents proving that you have excellent technical skills, such as intellectual property rights.
- Copy of patent certificate (KIPO), utility model registration (KIPO), design registration (KIPO), trademark registration (KIPO), copyright registration (KIPO), etc.
- Certificate of technical excellence from the Technology Credit Guarantee Fund or Small and Medium Business Corporation
- D-8-3
- Application for issuance of visa, passport, and one standardized photograph Fee
- Copy of foreign investment company registration certificate
- Proof of business funds (usage history) of the national who is a co-business partner
- A copy of the business license indicating the joint venturer An original copy of the joint venture agreement
- Proof of investment fund introduction
- Additional documents for individual investors with an investment amount of less than 300 million won
- Proof of capital usage (receipts for goods, office interior costs, domestic bank account deposit and withdrawal statements, etc.)
- Documents proving the existence of the business location (office lease agreement, photos of the business location, office space, signage, etc.)
- Documentation from the Bureau of Nationality regarding business experience in your industry or field (if necessary)
- D-8-4: Corporate Founder (Founder with Intellectual Property Rights or Technical Expertise)
- Basic Documents:
- Visa application form
- Passport
- Standard passport-size photo (1)
- Fee
- Certificate of Corporate Registration and a copy of the business registration certificate
- Copy of degree certificate or recommendation letter from the head of a relevant central government agency
- Basic Documents:
- Documents for Applicants Subject to the Points System:
- For holders of intellectual property rights: Copies of patent certificates, utility model registration certificates, or design registration certificates
- For holders of intellectual property rights registered in OECD countries: Copies of documents proving this fact
- For applicants with pending patents: Certificate of application issued by the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
- Documents proving completion (or graduation) of the "Entrepreneur Immigration Comprehensive Support System (OASIS)" issued by the head of the 'Global Startup Immigration Center' designated by the Minister of Justice, including awards, confirmation letters, and selection letters
- Other supporting documents for the points system criteria
- Exemptions from the Points System (Special Case for Technology Startups):
- For K-Startup Grand Challenge Participants:
- Basic documents + Confirmation letter of participation in the Grand Challenge issued by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and a recommendation letter from the Minister of MSS
- For Recipients of Government Startup Support Programs:
- Basic documents + Recommendation letter from the Minister of SMEs and Startups (MSS)
- For Startup Korea Special Visa:
- Basic documents + Recommendation letter from the Minister of SMEs and Startups (MSS)
